The European Bluegrass Blog is for sharing news and other information among everyone concerned with bluegrass music in Europe. Your input is always welcome. Contact the European Bluegrass Blog team by E-Mail. Please send text as normal mail message and attach no more than two pictures.

Wednesday, 31 March 2010

Read the Bluegrass Blog for the latest news on the G2 Bluegrass Band from Sweden, #1 European Bluegrass Band 2007 - especially the appreciative comments by John Lawless on the music from their new album, Untapped routes. One track from the album, the song 'Still standing', was released today as a digital single and can be bought on Klicktrack and heard on their website.

Read also how the band are searching for a base in the Nashville area for their forthcoming US tour.

Rainer ZellnerMusic Contact Roots Music Booking and Productione-mailSign in here for Music Contact's USA Roots e-newsletter. YouTube, video, and other media links on the artists presented are on the Music Contact website.

Dangem Bluegrass Banjo of Craigavon, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland, have been appointed as new distributors for Stelling banjos, and have taken delivery of their first batch of these top-class instruments.

Dangem have now become the sixth Stelling dealer in Europe, in addition to their long-standing association with Deering banjos. Dangem also host monthly Bluegrass Get-Togethers in Lisburn, Co. Antrim, and an annual weekend Banjo Camp in Northern Ireland, the second of which was held last month.

Monday, 29 March 2010

Thanks to Italian guitar wizard Beppe Gambetta for news - sent from Australia, where he will perform at the National Folk Festival, Canberra, and at the Fairbridge Festival, Perth, in early April.

Beppe returns to Italy for the all-star Acoustic Nights in Turin (Torino) and Genoa (Genova), which were announced on the EBB on 21 February. More details are on his website.

In the middle of May he begins two months of touring in Italy, Germany, and the USA, returning to Europe in July for the Rossiglione Folk Festival (23-5 July) and the 18th International Acoustic Guitar Workshop at Ambroz Pod Krvavcem, Slovenia (1-8 August). Twenty-one of the thirty places on the Workshop are already taken. Instructors will include Kathy Chiavola (USA) for vocal training and songwriting.

Beppe will then be touring in Italy in August and September, in the USA in October, and in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in November-December. A UK tour is being planned for March 2011 - promoters who are interested can contact Loudon Temple of the Brookfield Knights agency by e-mail.

The German record company Acoustic Music Records has just released the Beppe Gambetta collection, a compilation of fifteen tracks from previous albums. It is available directly from the Acoustic Music Records website or at Beppe's concerts.

Full details of Beppe Gambetta's schedule as it stands at present, together with many other items (YouTube favorites; peformances, recordings, and books by other musicians; and his comprehensive list of favourite restaurants in many countries), can be found in his newsletter, which you can read here.

Thanks to Erio Meili of the São Paulo Bluegrass Music Association for the invitation to participate in a very creative project:The “Bluegrass Row Contest 2010”, a new international feature for bluegrassers to serve as opportunity to show their talents across the worldwide YouTube scenario.For this contest a medley of three tunes in a row has to be played to become eligible for the Best Bluegrass Row Arrangement 2010, where creativity will draw the parameters for a winner’s election.The tunes are to be played with all 6 rooted bluegrass instruments (mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass, dobro) also allowing some inserts, within certain rules, for vocals and other instruments. The tune sequence of the medley has to be:a) The Crow (Californian Steve Martin’s 2010 Grammy Winner)b) The Frobee Watch (Brazilian Erio Meili’s public domain composition)c) None Finer (from AcuTab and TheBluegrassBlog editor John Lawless from Roanoke, VA)This is a project running for 6 months, the winner will be announced on September 30, 2010.Please take a look now at the contest rules (various language options) and listen to an embedded midi sample of the medley at the Sao Paulo Bluegrass Music Association homepagePlease do not hesitate to incentivize yourself and any of your bluegrass picking friends to enter this first and unique bluegrass world contest challenge with creativity and with a full bluegrass instrument line-up.Bluegrass will keep growing!Erio MeiliSao Paulo Bluegrass Music AssociationBluegrass Row

Friday, 26 March 2010

Red Wine Bluegrass Party #2 on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 March was another big hit!

For two nights the air of our hometown, Genoa (Genova), was filled with the sound of banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, and with the beautiful vocal harmonies of our special guests, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum.

The show was divided in two sets: in the first one Red Wine played alone, and then invited Laurie & Tom for a few more songs together. After a short intermission, Laurie & Tom opened the second set with a beautiful a cappella hunting number, and then played several songs as a duo, switching from guitar to mandolin to mandola to fiddle to twin fiddles! They invited back Red Wine on stage to end up the show with more numbers together. What a thrill to play and sing with such great musicians!

The encore saw a surprise visit on stage from our guest friends Beppe Gambetta (on Friday) and Lowell Levinger alias 'Banana' (on Friday and Saturday), for a rendition of 'The Old St. Sabbath' and 'My old Kentucky home'.

Everybody left the the Theatre of Gioventu' happy and with a lot of great memories, and we've already started working on the Red Wine Bluegrass Party #3 for 2011!

Thursday, 25 March 2010

One of the pleasures of the European World of Bluegrass Festival at Voorthuizen in the Netherlands is seeing familiar faces; another is seeing new acts; and a third is seeing a familiar face in an new setting.

Danny Sheerin (pictured left), singer and guitarist with the Irish band Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens, is scheduled to appear in a band showcase at 17:30 on Saturday 15 May 2010. This is not Danny's first time at the EWOB Festival, as Carmel & the Ravens showcased there in 2005, won the #1 European Bluegrass Band award, and went on to represent Europe at the IBMA's World of Bluegrass in 2006.

Danny has a website of his own under construction. Full details of the EWOB 2010 programme can be seen here.

Tuesday, 23 March 2010

The current (March-April 2010) issue of the US magazine Bluegrass Music Profiles includes a 'Promoter profile' on the European World of Bluegrass Festival at Voorthuizen, the Netherlands. This article, written by Don Kissil (formerly editor/publisher of Pickin' magazine, USA), will also be appearing in translation in the venerable Japanese bluegrass publication Moonshiner this spring.

This year's event will be the thirteenth EWOB Festival, and the twelfth held at 't Trefpunt, Voorthuizen. The Festival website includes a new press release, issued yesterday (22 March 2010), which gives full details of EWOB 2010 and can be read here.

Thanks to Country France for the news that the latest issue of the French-language country music magazine DreamWest includes features on Bill Monroe (p. 45), on the history of bluegrass music (pp 46-7), and on Steve Martin (p. 62). Issue #17 of DreamWest can be read online here.

Monday, 22 March 2010

EBMA board member, IBMA award winner Rienk Janssen (of Strictly Country magazine) has released his festival information for the 28th Big Bear Festival, May 24 in the Netherlands. Rienk and a small group of organizers have produced the Big Bear Festival in Zuidlaren, NL since 1982. Strictly Country has been the major sponsor of the festival. The headline act is “Hungry Hill” from Canada.

Rienk Janssen started his magazine in the early 1960’s. Strictly Country evolved into a booking agency in the 1970s – 1990s, as well as a recording company. However Rienk currently focuses his energy on his EBMA duties, the SC magazine, a quarterly bluegrass & country music related mail order auction, and retail sales of his huge inventory of books, recordings, videos, etc.

All information for this year’s one-day event (including the full program roster) may be found at the Strictly Country website: http://www.strictlycountry.nl/. It’s always a fine intimate gathering and, if the weather cooperates, the festival is held outdoors.

Award-winning writer, photographer, and broadcaster Stephanie P. Ledgin - author of Homegrown music: discovering bluegrass and From every stage: images of America's roots music - has recently published Discovering folk music, a survey of folk music in America ranging from the colonial era to '60s protest music to avant-garde 21st-century performers, embracing America's multicultural traditions, and demonstrating the relevance of folk music in everyday life. The book has already been welcomed with very positive reviews. The full jacket description can be read here. For interview or review copy requests, please e-mail.

Stephanie Ledgin's many awards and honours include IBMA Print Media Person of the Year (2005). She is also a strong supporter of bluegrass from outside America: a chapter of Home grown music is devoted to international bluegrass.

The Swiss old-time/bluegrass band Big Stone [see photos above and below] organised a benefit concert for the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambarene, Africa. It took place in the very well attended catholic church centre in Bülach last Friday, 19 March.

Big Stone with the gentleman who worked in the hospital

In the middle of the program, a gentleman who was working in Lambarene for years sang together with the band Johny Cash's 'Folsom Prison Blues'. After a break, another Swiss band, the Blue Valley Drifters, came on stage and played another set.

Blue Valley Drifters

It was a beautiful evening and I hope that good money came together to help... thanks to Big Stone! It would be nice, if more bands will follow this great idea.

The parish priest with little Iwanka from Ukraine

Last year in January they held there also a concert to pay the hospital bills for a little girl from Ukraine, named Iwanka. As we could see her at the concert this time too, she is getting much better now. She is waiting for the next operation, living here with her Swiss foster-family.

Saturday, 20 March 2010

The Krüger Brothers return to the New Acoustic Gallery at Solingen on Wednesday 31 March 2010 for the only German concert in their European tour, bringing with them their brand new CD and a percussionist. A foretaste of their music can be seen and heard on YouTube. Tickets are €30 in advance, €35 at the door. For all tickets to NAG events, telephone Oliver Waitze at +49 0212/2474007.

Also in the NAG's 2010 concert series, Mike Marshall & Caterina Lichtenberg will give a concert of duets for mandolin and mandocello on 11 September. Tickets: €25 in advance €30 at the door.

The Trio Vibracao (Oliver Waitze, acoustic guitar; Jesper Rübner, mandolin; Max Schaaf, bass) will be in concert at the NAG on 13 Nov. 2010 at 8.00 p.m. Tickets: €15 in advance, €18 at the door.

Thursday, 18 March 2010

A fine photo of Jurgen Biller (banjo) and Joost van Es (fiddle) of 4 Wheel Drive is the illustration for a flyer issued by the Ulster American Folk Park at Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

4 Wheel Drive, with Jolanda Peters (vocals), will be 'in residence' at the Folk Park throughout its Easter Celebrations programme, which will run from 10.00 a.m. on Saturday 3 April to 5.00 p.m. on Tuesday 6 April, under the title 'A Spring Fair Day'. The band are no strangers to the Folk Park, having often played there during previous editions of the annual Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival.

In addition, 4 Wheel Drive will be playing several other dates in Ireland (2-9 April); full details are on the Bluegrass Ireland Blog. The tour is coordinated by Andrew Peters of the Bronte Music Club in Rathfriland, Co. Down.

Monday, 15 March 2010

Thanks to Paolo Dettwiler for the news that during the forthcoming European tour by the Krüger Brothers, banjo maestro Jens Krüger will give a banjo workshop at the Stiftung zur Palme, Hochstrasse 31-33, 8330 Pfäffikon ZH, about 30 km east of Zurich, Switzerland.

The workshop will be held on Sunday 28 March from 10:00 to 14:00, and will cover the development of arrangements and solos, instrument set-up, timing, speed, backup techniques, banjo styles, and music theory for the bluegrass and country player.

As shown on the European Bluegrass Blog on 1 March, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum are a week into their current tour in Europe. Today (Sunday 14 March) they head the lineup for the Bluegrass Jamboree at the Amigdala Theatre, Viale Lombardia 31, 20056 Trezzo sull'Adda (between Milan and Bergamo); and on 19-20 March they will be special guests at the 2nd Red Wine Blue Grass Party at the Teatro della Gioventù, Via Cesarea, 16121 Genoa (Genova).

Saturday, 13 March 2010

Leadership Bluegrass 2010, hosted 9-11 March at BMI in Nashville, Tennessee, was facilitated by Fred Bartenstein, a noted bluegrass historian and professional meeting facilitator, who was also the chosen moderator for the IBMA's International Bluegrass Summit of 2008 and for the first European Bluegrass Summit in 2009.

The 2010 class includes Chris Keenan of the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival, held annually in Longford, Ireland, since 2002. Chris is the only European entrant this year and one of only three class members from outside the USA. In the above photo by the IBMA's Nancy Cardwell, Chris is second from the right in the second row from the front. More details will be appearing on the IBMA website.

Friday, 12 March 2010

The Danilo Cartia Band (I) will be playing at 'Blue Frets' on 17 March 2010 (St Patrick's day) at 22:00, in St James’s Irish Pub, Via Flaminia Km 39.100, in the town of Rignano Flaminio, north of Rome on the SS3 (Via Flaminia).

The Irish National Guitar Festival, featuring many genres of music, will be held at Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland, from Wednesday 7 April to Sunday 11 April 2010. Among the guitarists taking part is Sophia Johnson (right; photo by Jeff G Photography) of the Toy Hearts bluegrass band (UK): Sophia will be playing twice daily in the Yamaha Clinic slot on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the Festival. More details are on the Festival programme.

Thursday, 11 March 2010

How long have you been waiting for a bluegrass music trivia game? Well...it took Bob Iery, of Maysville, Kentucky USA four years of research, concept development and design to invent what appears to be the first-ever bluegrass board game. It was released late last month (February 2010).

Bluegrass Routes is a bluegrass trivia board game somewhat similar to the various 'trivial pursuit' types of games. There are 1200 questions divided into 5 categories: Legends & Pioneers, Brothers & Misfits, Songs, Bands & Bandleaders, and Sidemen. The game board measures 20" x 20" (50.8cm x 50.8cm) and is a 'quad-fold' game board (folds into quarter sections). Also included are 20 'Instrument Cards', playing pieces and one die. The object of the game is to form a five-piece bluegrass band as you travel along the "Bluegrass Routes." The game can be played by 2 or 4 players.

Bob Iery is a retired teacher and a bluegrass fan for 40 years. "I'm not the greatest picker, but I wanted to do something that would help promote our wonderful music, and give bluegrass fans something other than records to be entertained by."

In the tradition of Bluegrass music, this is purely a grassroots project. There is no corporate involvement. Bob is the sole developer and investor. He is distributing the game directly from his home.

Mr. Iery is aware of the popularity of bluegrass music in foreign lands. In a recent email he stated, "I didn't consider shipping overseas at first, but I have seen several top European bands at the IBMA Fan Fest and knew it was popular over there." Bob told me this week that he will indeed ship the game to any European bluegrass fans who may be interested.

I enjoyed the CD overall. It is the first time I am listening to a CD of that singer, and enjoyed it very much. Her smooth voice timbre is pleasant, and the choice of repertoire has a very good taste! I found the tracks in Bulgarian being different and bold!... and it shows the pride from her roots. The music that I liked most on the CD was 'Red clay halo'... and also the Bill Monroe song 'Cry, cry darlin''. I think it's wonderful to hear bluegrass from other regions of the world. Each country and interpreter is giving its touch. I loved the CD and I will recommend it to bluegrass lovers... and I will do more follow up on Lilly Drumeva's career.

One of our former members, Jesper Rübner-Petersen, now living and teaching mandolin in Germany, has just had a book on bluegrass mandolin improvisation published by Mel Bay in the United States. It is a well written, thorough book that mandolin players at many levels can learn a lot from. The book contains 200 pages, and comes with a CD, where the numerous examples all can be heard. Jesper has made a MySpace page about the book. We are extremely proud that one of our native sons has produced such a fine bluegrass work.

The book can be ordered from the Mel Bay website, where full details can be found.

Tuesday, 9 March 2010

Congratulations to Acousticure from Hungary, current #1 European Bluegrass Band, whose CD Bluegrass van (Gryllus Records GCD 073) has been reviewed in the March 2010 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine. The reviewer, Bill Conger, writes:

This acoustic quartet demonstrates the worldwide influence of bluegrass music. Labeled a Hungarian bluegrass band, I really would not have known these guys were from across the pond... tight vocals and superb chops... make this album a must have for your collection.

Another European reference in the same issue of BU: David McCarty's article on Chuck Ogsbury of Ome Banjos mentions the 'eighty-year-old Swedish woodworker' in Ogsbury's home town of Louisville, KY, who helped him get started in building banjos. Perhaps Swedish bluegrassers should identify and commemorate this craftsman as a Bluegrass Pioneer?

Thanks to the organisers of the 19th Karl May Festtage (14-16 May 2010) in Radebeul, Germany, for the news that this year's event includes a Bluegrass and Country Festival, with Uncle Earl (left) at the head of the lineup. The schedule includes:

Monday, 8 March 2010

Thanks to Sophia Johnson of the Toy Hearts (UK) for the four-page March 2010 issue of the band's magazine-format, fully illustrated newsletter, which includes the big news that their third album, Femme fatale, is scheduled for release in June 2010 with distribution from a record label. The Toy Hearts will be touring in the UK and Europe during the summer in connection with the new album before their next trip to the US.

Other features include the band's endorsement of BlueChip picks (also featured in the March 2010 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine); Hannah's new Collings mandolin; and many photos from the Bluegrass Jamboree tour in December, and from the Femme fatale recording sessions. The list of forthcoming appearances on page 4 includes the Picnic Festival at Namur, Belgium (3-5 September 2010).

Thanks to Ondra Plucha for the news that Blackjack (CZ) will begin recording a new CD next week for release at the beginning of May. It will be available at the EWOB Festival 2010 in Voorthuizen, NL.

The album features the lineup (Ondra Plucha, guitar; Martin Kubec, banjo; Slavek Podhrasky, mandolin; Richard Podhrasky, bass) which Blackjack have kept for ten years, plus Ondra Kozak on fiddle. Ondra, who plays guitar with Kreni and the Petr Brandejs Band, took part in Blackjack's previous CD and has became a steady guest of the band. Karel Zacal (dobro player of Kreni and also producer of Coner resonator guitars) plays dobro on some cuts. The material of the recording is based on forgotten songs from 1950s bluegrass, as usual with Blackjack. Along with previous recordings, it will be available at Blackjack's live shows or from their website.

Stephanie P. Ledgin sends the sad news that Sue Woodward of North Carolina passed away peacefully on Tuesday 2 March at 9.30 a.m., after a long fight against cancer. A memorial service will be held on Saturday 13 March at 11.00 a.m. at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, 504 W. Chapel Hill St., Durham, N.C.

Stephanie describes Sue as 'one of the hugest fans of bluegrass and folk music you could ever imagine', who was living in Italy in the early days of Red Wine, and was responsible for helping the band's guitarist at that time, Beppe Gambetta, to begin his career in the US. Stephanie, who took over Beppe Gambetta's bookings and management from 1989, says: 'I don't think Beppe (or Red Wine) could have a bigger or better fan... and friend [than] Sue Woodward.'

Beppe was able to be at Sue's side on Monday 1 March to offer one last private concert. Read Stephanie Ledgin's full account here.

Sunday, 7 March 2010

Thanks to Lilly Pavlak for the news that Hickory Project (USA) will be performing at the 2010 La Roche Bluegrass Festival (28 July-1 August) in La Roche-sur-Foron, Haute Savoie, France, where they will also be teaching at the instrument and band workshops.

Hickory Project will arrive in Europe on 25 July and would welcome the opportunity to perform in Europe before and after the La Roche festival. If you can offer a booking, please contact the Project's mandolinist, Anthony Hannigan, by e-mail.

The 17th Annual Picking Party on 16 January in Leiden was a great success. Pictures are to be found here, here, and here. On YouTube you can find some video fragments.

In Valthermond, on 27 March, there will be another picking party, called Northern Picking, with a lot of sessions, and possibly a banjo workshop by Bruno van Hoek.

The weekend of 20-22 August the third 'Ins Blaue Hinein' instructional program will be held in the German Eifel mountains, hosted by Paul van Vlodrop, Peter Broekhuijsen, Bruno van Hoek and Elly Beurskens. E-mail: Paul van Vlodrop, Elly Beurskens.

Liz Meyer, powerful singer/songwriter and one of the main moving forces behind the European World of Bluegrass (EWOB) Festival, has had major health problems during the last year. Her husband Pieter Groenveld sends this report from the centre where Liz is receiving treatment for cancer:

Liz has set her first steps this week, using a walker. Coming Sunday is her birthday, exactly nine months after arriving in the clinic here in Bad Aibling, Bavaria. We hope she can be moved to a rehab centre before too long, and that she will be home some time this spring. In the meantime she spends a lot of time and energy on the EWOB site and is communicating with lots of musicians and the EWOB committee on a daily basis.

The European Bluegrass Blog, on behalf of the EBMA and the bluegrass community throughout Europe, sends heartfelt good wishes for Liz's continued improvement and her eventual complete recovery.

Before the band (leaders in the field of 'alternative bluegrass') begin their dates in the UK and Sweden, they will be making five appearances in the Republic of Ireland, beginning on 15 March. This includes a slot on one of the longest-running programmes on the national TV station. Full details are on the Bluegrass Ireland Blog.

Thanks to Roman Áč of Grasscountry (SK) for the report about this amaszing event in the hotel Kosodrevina, Low Tatras, Slovakia.

The initial idea of a Musician Camp in Hotel Kosodrevina, located in Low Tatras, Slovakia, was to organize a multigenre meeting for musicians formerly counting with number around 100 people. However, immediately after the first year of the event in 2005, to its organizers (Roman Áč and Jozef Černý) the genre orientation was absolutely clear: Bluegrass music. This kind of music is really strong in the terms of amount of musicians and fans in Slovakia and mainly in Czech Republic. So, the initially informal meeting of musicians developed into series of stage-performances of full bands. The overall sound was under control of excellent Jirka Elger.

The Fifth Anniversary year was extraordinary in character. There were 260 people participating. Saturday's "little stage" was opened in addition to the main stage and the first official guitar workshop was performed by Ralph Schut (G-Runs 'n Roses, CZ) and Ondra Kozák (Křeni, CZ). Also, there were more intensive jam sessions this time in comparison to previous years. One could say, that the Musician Camp in Hotel Kosodrevina gains its own prestige and slowly becomes one of the major festivals as are, for instance, Banjo Jamboree, Starej Dobrej Western and many others. In addition, it excels in its uniqueness. It takes place in the beginning of January – out of main season – and one can witness notable experiences there. This year, there were 26 bands from Slovakia and Czech Republic presenting their repertoire. Here are most memorable of them: excellent Monogram – accompanied also singer Pavlína Jíšová, Grasscountry, or 29 Strún (29 Strings) and also very interesting project called The Bricks.The proof that the promoters did they job right are not only positive reactions on portals like bgcz.net, or instantly growing interest and sympathy, but mainly the satisfaction of attended musicians and fans, who won't forget any of this unique festivals. The love for bluegrass music is well-marked everywhere in "Kosodrevina".

Wednesday, 3 March 2010

Graham Buckley informs us that after his session teaching at Sore Fingers Week (5-9 April), Tony Furtado (USA) (left) will be performing his only UK gig on this visit at the Verge, Cheshire Ring, 72 Manchester Road, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 2BJ, on Saturday 10 April at 8.30 p.m.

Tickets at £10 are available from the venue or on Ticketline. Door price is £12. Tony played this venue in November last year and wished to do a repeat gig there. Enquiries: telephone +44 07802 293 854/0161 368 8769, or e-mail Graham Buckley.

Thirty-six bands from thirteen European countries will be performing, together with two acts from Canada and four from the USA. The evening concerts on the three successive days of the Festival will be closed by Hungry Hill (Canada), the Kathy Kallick Band (USA; see photo above), and Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa (USA).

Businesses already registered to take part in the Trade Show section of the Festival include Boetzkes Snaarinstrumenten, Martin’s Musikkiste, the New Acoustic Gallery, Prucha Bluegrass Instruments, Runesson Handmade Guitars, Strictly Country, and Wim van de Weg's Used and Vintage Instruments. The workshop schedule and other events at 't Trefpunt will be announced shortly.

Thanks to Lilly Pavlak for taking these and other photos at the 26th International Country Music Festival at the Schützenhaus Albisgütli, Zurich, Switzerland, during the concert on Friday 26 Feb. 2010 - the first of two special Bluegrass Nights, headlined by the Grascals (USA), during the 38-day festival. On 27 Feb. the supporting band was the Bluegrass Family (CH).

The Challenge, a young band from Switzerland; other photos of the show are on their website

The Grascals

More photos by Lilly can be seen here, including individual shots of the Grascals.

Monday, 1 March 2010

Following the news posted on the EBB on 27 January, Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum (USA) are scheduled to play a total of eight shows in Germany, Italy, and Switzerland this month. As a duo, they will be playing

Sun. 14 Mar.: Bluegrass Jamboree, Amigdala Theatre, Viale Lombardia 31, 20056 Trezzo sull'Adda (between Milan and Bergamo), Italy. As the poster (left) shows, the lineup includes Once in a While (Milan) and Bononia Grass (Bologna/Genoa). Doors open at 19:00 and the show starts at 20:00. Admission is €15; a 'Country Barbeque), for an extra €10, can be booked in advance at 331 966 3821. Thanks to Paolo Ercoli of Bononia Grass, who sends us the information of this great event.

Dan Mazer would also be glad to be able to borrow or rent a banjo from a Netherlands musician, for use on the tour. He adds: I recall that one of the pickers there... has Ben Eldridge's old Stelling Staghorn. It would be fun to play that banjo on a tour! Contact Dan via e-mail.